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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Varsity Team Wins Former FIVE GUYS in North Buckhead

The Varsity is opening on Roswell Road in north Buckhead.Atlanta-based The Varsity plans to open a new inline location on Roswell Road in north Buckhead, taking space left vacant when FIVE GUYS recently closed. The Varsity sells similar food to FIVE GUYS but has a brand far more well known and loved locally. Due to the size of this location, it's likely to be branded as a "Jr." though I have been able to confirm that.

Sources tell me there were multiple interested parties wishing to lease the former FIVE GUYS but that in the end The Varsity won out. The Roswell-Wieuca Shopping Center is anchored by The Fresh Market but is also home to a host of popular restaurants such as Goldberg's Bagel & Deli, Willy's Mexicana Grill and Tin Drum Asia Cafe, among others.

The Varsity closed their Varsity Jr. location on Cheshire Bridge Road in August 2010 after their unwillingness to adhere to new zoning regulations. (The restaurant thought it was grandfathered in but the extent to which it wished to renovate meant it would have to make significant adjustments for new zoning and area regulations, and the cost of doing this was apparently too much for them)

The Varsity restaurant dates back to 1928. Currently there are seven locations, 6 Varsity and the recently opened Varsity Jr. of Georgia 400 in Dawsonville near the North Georgia Premium Outlets.

An opening timetable was not yet available but considering the space was a similar restaurant so recently, the conversion should be rather fast.

C'mon, it's an Atlanta institution. How can you be against the Varsity opening up a new location? The way the city treated them in their negotiations at Cheshire Bridge was shameful. And their orange freezes are da bomb.

they'll do well here. yes, the food is not of the highest quality. but it's an atlanta tradition, and even though indigestion is an inevitable effect of their meals, people will flock here. and shame on whoever just called the frosted orange an 'orange freeze'

To all you outsider: geeze, lighten up. The Varsity was never about fine dining. It's a hamburger joint, duh. I must admit to a lifelong addition to the onion rings, FO and hamburgers. It's not like Atlanta is the sole city in the universe with an addition to a timeless greasy spoon (think White Castle in Cincy).

I heard from someone in the know that the revised zoning at the old Jr. site prohibited left turns into the parking lot from eastbound Lindbergh, and that the city wouldn't budge on this issue. Could be why the site is still vacant? In any case, that would have a serious effect on customer access.